Into The Bloom: How To Grow Capsicum At Home

The world is now taking a sustainable route and turning to homegrown, fresh produce vegetables. Growing vegetables at home for consumption is not only healthier but a fulfilling experience too. With our new series, Into The Bloom, we have been bringing you detailed guides of growing vegetables, herbs and fruits at home and this time, let's take you through a step by step guide to grow capsicum at home.

How To Grow Capsicum Using Seeds?

1. Get high-quality capsicum seeds from a nursery. Capsicums are available in a variety including red, green, yellow. You can pick the one that works best for your location. India's growing conditions are best suited for green coloured capsicum.

2. Next, get a potting mix and pot. Make sure the pot has drainage holes. This will prevent waterlogging and keep your plant healthy.

3. Place the seeds in the potting mix, they should be 1/4 inches deep. Cover with soil and then spray some water using a spray bottle.

4. Capsicum needs a warm environment to grow quickly. Keep the plant indoors for about 8 to 10 days.

5. Capsicum needs a lot of indirect sunlight to grow. Make sure you place the pot in a warm location.

6. Soon you will see the seeds shooting out their first leaves. When they grow 3-4 inches tall, they are ready to be transplanted.

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7. In another pot, plant these seedlings. Place them outdoors for a week. Choose a sunny location in your home garden where the plant gets 6-8 hours of sunlight per day.

8. The soil needs to be moist but don't water the leaves. Mulching helps in keeping the soil moisture intact and prevents the growth of pesticides.

9. Harvest the capsicum peppers only when they have reached the right colour and size. Gently cut the peppers using a pair of scissors.

How To Grow Capsicum Plant Quickly?

• Use high quality soil to grow capsicum. The soil should be rich in nutrients. To enhance the soil quality, add compost or well-rotted manure.
• Don't forget to mulch. Mulching always helps in quick growth. The process involves adding a layer of organic mulch or leaves on the soil. Mulch helps in retaining moisture and regulates the soil temperature, further helping in quick growth.

• Try the pinching technique. Pinching off the first set of flowers that start to appear on the young plant will help you encourage growth.

• Capsicum plants need a fertiliser every 4-6 weeks. Get a fertiliser from a nursery. But remember that over fertilisation can spoil your plant. (Benefits of eating capsicum)
• Check out for pests and diseases. The plant attracts whiteflies and caterpillars. Use an organic pest controller or insecticide spray to manage the pests.
• Remember that growing capsicum can take months and all you need to do is take care of your plant and be patient! Keep checking for any unusual signs and get the plant inspected by a gardening expert.